Landon Donovan is the most electrifying soccer player America has ever produced. Once a well-kept secret, the never-say-die scoring machine exploded on to the global scene during World Cup 2002. Prior to his magnificent performance at World Cup 2010, many soccer insiders insisted he was "The One"—the player who embodied the qualities that might one day transcend his sport and turn on millions of his countrymen to the planet’s most popular game. In South Africa, he delivered on this promise and then some. Largely as a result of Landon’s prowess as a playmaker and leader, the U.S. is on the verge of having a dominant international team. More important, Americans actually care. This is his story…

GROWING
UP

Landon Timothy Donovan
was born on March 4, 1982, in Ontario, California. (Click
here for a complete listing of today's sports birthdays.) His mother, Donna,
raised him
with
his twin sister, Tristan, and older brother, Josh, in Redlands, just about
75 miles due west of Los Angeles. She and Landons father, Tim, divorced
when he was two. The elder Donovan eventually remarried and moved to Nebraska.
(Landon has an older step-brother, Tim, and older step-sister, Sheri.)
None of the kids saw much of their father. Landon, in turn, developed
very
close relationships with his mother and siblings, especially Tristan.

Life wasnt particularly
easy for the family. Redlands is located in San Bernardino County, one of
Californias more affluent regions. Donna worked as a special-education
teacher in the Fontana school district, but she didnt make a lot of money.
Most parents in the area were married and wealthy. This created a point of
differentiation between Landon and other kids in his neighborhood which made
him uncomfortable at times.

The youngster filled
the void with soccer. He was drawn to the game from the time he could
walk. Josh,
a
good player himself, spent hours teaching his younger brother the basics
of kicking, dribbling, and trapping the ball. By Landons fifth birthday,
he was already dreaming big. He wanted to play professionally and bring
home
Olympic gold for the U.S. He begged his mother to sign him up for an organized
league, and she enrolled him on a team with six- and seven-year-olds. He
scored
seven goals in his first game.

Landons rise through
the youth leagues of California had more than its share of detours. In
a system where money talks, he often went unheard. Ultimately, however,
his skills spoke too loudly for coaches to ignore. When Landon couldnt
afford the fees associated with select teams that traveled around the
state, his bill was magically taken care of. Such concessions
were rare, and Donna knew it. She noticed how coaches disregarded Hispanic
players from poor familiessome of whom seemed as promising as Landon.

Donna wanted all her
children to explore a variety of interests and hobbies. For Landon, a
straight-A student, this meant taking violin lessons after school. In
his freshman year of high school, he got a job delivering newspapers.

But
Landon couldnt ignore his love of soccer. A member of Cal Heat—a
club based in Rancho Cucamonga—he received expert instruction
and plenty of encouragement, particularly from coach Clint Greenwood.
In 1997, when he turned 15, he was accepted into U.S. Youth Soccers
Olympic Development Program. Donna scraped the money together for him
to attend a regional camp in Montana. For the first time, Landon got a
feel for soccer at its most intense and competitive levels. He knew he
was where he belonged.

It was at this moment
that his father reappeared. Tim wanted
to play a bigger role in Landons life. Was he feeling guilty for abandoning
his kids years earlier, or did he crave a piece of the action if his sons
career blossomed? A former semi-pro hockey player in Canada, Tim undoubtedly
had insight into some of the obstacles that awaited a developing athlete.
Landon cautiously reopened the lines of communication with his dad.

ON
THE RISE

Landons freshman
season at Redlands High School was a spectacular success. He played brilliantly
and
was named league MVP. In the fall of 1997, he transferred to the superior
program at East Valley High, which was also in Redlands. Landon was eating, drinking,
and sleeping soccer. Although he played in only 10 games for the school
as
a sophomore, he picked up 16 goals and 12 assists.

Landon spent most of this
in 1997-98 playing for the U.S. national program. He made his international debut
with the U-17 team in February of 1998. In a 2-1 loss to Mexico,
Landon notched his first official international goal.

Ten months later, at the inaugural
U-16 Christchurch Cup in New Zealand, Landon netted 11 goals to lead the U.S.
to victory in the six-team international event. In the final against Korea,
he scored three times, and the Americans won in a 5-1 trouncing. In all, Landon
appeared in 27 games during 1997-98 and topped the U.S. squad in goals (23) and
assists (13). The National Soccer Coaches Association of America named him
an All-American.

A new season, meanwhile, had begun
at East Valley. Again Landon could not make a full commitment to the team.
The Wildcats nonetheless welcomed the 16-year-old with open arms. In just
a handful of games, Landon collected 15 goals and 19 assists. His performance
earned him a spot on the 1999 Parade Magazine High School All-American Team.

There was something
special about Landon, something that went beyond his obvious skills. Soccer
in the United
States has been criticized in just about every way. Among the chief complaints
is that the players America produces seem to lack the killer instinct
other
international players have, especially when they are closing in on an enemy
goalkeeper. There are a number of socio-economic theories for this phenomenon,
but theories dont score goals and win soccer matches. What excited
soccer people most about Landon was his intense, all-consuming desire
to win.

Landon Donovan, 2001 Soccer
America

In 1998, U.S. Soccer
launched a program called Project 2010. The goal was to
capture the World Cup within 12 years. Players such as Landon, DaMarcus
Beasley,
and
Bobby Convey were essential to this effort. All were young, immensely
talented, and deathly serious about competing internationally.

In January of 1999, with backing
from Nike and the International Marketing Group, U.S. Soccer established
the Bollettieri Sports Academy as a training home base for Project 2010. There,
in Bradenton, Florida, players attended classes at nearby schools in the mornings,
and then trained and practiced all afternoon. It was a model that had worked well
for the tennis players who had gone through the academy in the 1980s and ’90s,
including Jimmy Arias, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Monica Seles. With the
tennis boom subsided, Bollettieri had the space and a keen understanding of
what it takes to build young bodies and mold young minds.

Another important development
was that, for the first time ever, Americas U-17 team had a full-time
coach. John Ellinger, whose resume included 24 years as a physical education
teacher in Marylands public school system, had an immediate impact on
the teams fortunes. That February, Landon and his teammates scored a
major upset, beating Argentinas teenagers, 4-3. Landon, who was growing
into a role as team leader, had two goals.

Landon followed this
performance with an eye-opening game against Major League Soccers
Tampa Bay Mutiny. It was an exhibition, of course, but the U-17s beat
the Mutiny, 2-0. Landon
scored both goals.

All was not well with the Americans,
however. In Jamaica, they failed to secure an automatic berth in the U-17 World
Championship, which was scheduled for the end of the year in New Zealand. Needing a
win over the host country, the U.S. came out flat, and the match ended in a
scoreless tie. Landon showed his frustration when he charged into the Jamaican
goalkeeper late in the contest. The stunt earned him a red card and a one-game
suspension. He admitted afterward that his actions were stupid.

Whether Landon realized
it or not, just about everyone in the soccer worldboth in the U.S. and abroadwas watching him very closely. Aside from his transgression at the end
of the Jamaica match, he was displaying skills and maturity far beyond
the vast majority of players his age. Already people were calling him
the most promising American ever to hit the soccer scene. Some in Europe
went as far as to tab him the next Michael Owen. Owen, a teenage
striker for England, dazzled World Cup crowds in 1998 and was the youngest
player to make his countrys international squad during the 20th
century.

In March, Landon became
the youngest player ever called up to the U.S. U-23 team. Feyenoord of
the Netherlands
Honor Division, Pris Saint-Germain, and English powerhouses Manchester
United
and Arsenal all invited him to try out for their clubs. MLS, meanwhile, was hoping to
lure him to its Project-40 development program.

Germanys Bayer Leverkusen,
however, pursued Landon more aggressively than any other club. The teams
interest peaked after Landons stunning performance against Argentina.
Bayer had experience with American players, having signed Frankie Hejduk off
the U.S. squad after the 1998 World Cup. Now the club sent scouts to watch Landon
just about everywhere he played. In April, he wowed them during the Montaigue
Tournament in France, netting three goals in three games. He continued his
sparkling play a month later while on tour with the U.S. U-17 team in Italy.
Bayer needed no further convincing. The team inked Landon to a four-year
deal
worth a reported $100,000 annually. Soonafter, he signed an even more lucrative
endorsement contract with Nike.

Though his mother (now
Donna Kenney-Cash after remarrying) was not thrilled about her 17-year-old
son
living so far
from home, Landon jumped at the opportunity to play professionally in Germany.
His father agreed with his choice. Both felt that the instruction
he would receive and the competition he would face would benefit him tremendously.
Landon left for Germany in the spring of 1999.

Adjusting to life in
a foreign country was much more difficult than Landon anticipated. He didnt speak
German, and most of his teammates were much older. The only familiar face
was that of John Thorrington, a member of Americas U-23 team. Landon
was on the phone constantly, either to his mother and sister back in California
or to his father in Nebraska. Talking out his problems with Tristan was most
helpful of all.

DaMarcus Beasley,
2000 Soccer America

Landon only enjoyed
himself in Germany when he was on the soccer field, though even there
he was lost
at
times. The German system demands discipline. Not a second is wasted in practice,
and tardiness is not tolerated. In matches, players are expected to execute
their clubs gameplan flawlessly. Though Landon sometimes felt suffocated
by this regimented approach to the game, he quickly learned where his
game
was weak. He worked hard to refine his skills in those areas. He began to anticipate plays
earlier, gaining a better understanding of when to attack and when to
fall
back on defense. He controlled the ball more confidently and became more
adept at beating defenders one-on-one. He also developed a more dangerous
and efficient scoring touch around the net.

Landons progress with
Bayer seemed to suggest that he was on the fast track to Germanys
First Division. But management saw things differently. The braintrust
of Berti Vogts and Rainer Clamund grew frustrated by what they viewed
as mixed loyalties. Landon spent weeks at a time away from the club to
train with the U.S. In August, he helped America capture the bronze at
the 1999 Pan Am Games. Landon got the game-winner—his first international
goal for the U.S. national team—against Canada to put his country on
the medal stand. Three months later, he joined his U-17 teammates in New
Zealand for the World Championship; the Americans had finally earned
a
spot in the 16-team tournament by defeating El Salvador in a home-and-home
playoff series several months earlier.

The U.S. squad entered
the event with high hopes. The Americanshad competed in the past six U-17 World
Championships,
advancing to the quarterfinals twice. The teams best finish was
fifth in 1991; its most embarrassing moment, however, came in 1997, with
a 4-0 loss
to tiny Oman. Two years removed from this disaster, the 1999 U-17 club was
unquestionably the best America had ever fielded. Sporting an overall
record
of 23-7-11, the U.S. was unbeaten in its last 20 international matches. Landon,
who had scored 32 goals in his last 35 games, was part of a strong nucleus
that included Jordan Cila, Kyle Beckerman,
co-captain Nelson Akwari, Convey and Beasley.

Playing in
Group A, the U.S. opened the tournament with a rousing 2-1 win over host country
New Zealand.
Landon led the charge, scoring the decisive goal late in the second half.
Up next was a tough-minded Polish squad. Again Landon was the hero. This
time
he found the back of the net on a penalty kick, Americas only tally
in a 1-1 tie. Against dangerous Uruguay, the Americans played with supreme
patience. After withstanding an early barrage, they settled into a scoreless
defensive struggle. In the 90th minute, Oguchi Onyewu scored on a header
set
up by a pass from Beasley. The U.S. celebrated a dramatic victory. By
taking its group, the U.S. moved on to the quarterfinals against arch-rival
Mexico. In a classic battle, America won 3-2.

That created an interesting match
against Australia in the semifinals. Both teams had surprised opponents by
advancing this far. The Australians featured a strong defense anchored by
captain Mark Byrnes, Adrian Madaschi, and Adam Goulding. Shane Cansdell-Sherriff,
a talented offensive player, was also on the squad. After falling behind 2-0,
the Americans fought back, with Landon sparking the rally. He scored on a
powerful drive from the penalty area to cut the margin in half, and then set
up the tying goal by Onyewu. The U.S. lost when the match went into penalty
kicks, stalling in its attempt to move onto the final. Three days later Landon
and his teammates played uninspired soccer in the consolation game against
Ghana. But all was not lost with the 2-0 defeat. For the first time in a decade (and only the third time ever), the U.S reached the semis in an outdoor
FIFA world championship. Landon, meanwhile, was awarded the Gold Ball as tournament
MVP.

Landon returned to Germany
in the spring of 2000, only to find himself relegated to Bayers amateur
team in the Third Division. The demotion was hard news for Landon to swallow.
The quality of play was mediocre at best. By May, despite a strong showing
from Landonwhich included a hat trick against Rot-Weiss Essenthe
club was 16th among the leagues18 teams. The 18-year-old desperately
wanted to play for Bayers first team in the top-flight Bundesliga.
When the club was convinced he was ready, Landon was promoted.

By then it was summer,
and Landon had another goal in mind: helping the U.S. go for Olympic
gold
at the Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. Most American fans would
have
been happy to make it to the medal roundsomething that had never
happened before. The U.S. was positioned in Group C with the Czech Republic,
Cameroon, and Kuwait. All three were experienced international squads
with talented rosters.

Landon Donovan, 1999 Soccer Jr.

To their credit, the
U.S. players were not intimidated. Coach Clive Charles put together a
hard-charging
team
that was apt to surrender scoring chances, but not many goals. That was thanks
in part to veteran Brad Friedel who stepped in when an injury forced goalkeeper
Adin Brown to the sidelines. Clearing the way in front of Friedel was
a defense
led by captain Brian Dunseth, Danny Califf, Peter Vagenas, and John OBrien.
But the clubs real strength was up front where Josh Wolff, Chris Albright,
and Conor Casey keyed an attack that applied constant pressure.

America came up big
in its opening game with a 2-2 tie with the Czech Republic. The contests
turning point came just before halftime when Wolff put his team up by
a goal.
Convinced
that the U.S. was for real, the Czechs played conservatively the rest of
way. After knotting the score in the second half, they were content to
escape with
a tie. Landon watched from the bench, as Charles chose to keep his inexperienced
young striker out of the fray.

The Americans played
well against Cameroon in their next match. Down 1-0 midway through the
first half,
the U.S. took control, running the opposition ragged with
attacks toward the net. Finally, 19 minutes into the second half, Vagenas
connected on a penalty
kick. Though the Americans created several other good chances, they failed
to add to this tally. Still, the 1-1 tie put the team into position to
advance
to the quarterfinals. Once again, Landon was relegated to the bench.

The lack of playing
time frustrated Landon. He saw his teammates miss opportunities to score
on shots which
he
was certain he would have buried. The situation was very similar to the Olympic
qualifying matches played over the summer. Landon rode the pine for the
first
two contests before getting a start against Guatemala. He proceeded to score
a pair of goals in a 4-0 victory, which actually clinched Americas
spot in the Summer Games.

The decision by Charles
to sit the youngster drew a steady stream of questions from the medianot
to mention the ire of Landons father. Tim couldnt
believe his son had yet to set foot on the field. In an open letter to
Charles posted on an Internet message board, he chided the coach for settling
for a pair of ties when Landons goal-scoring touch could have spelled
the difference in both games. The coach responded that his team was playing
well, and Landons time would come.

His time did
come, in the 30th minute of Americas match against Kuwait. On the line
was first place in Group C and a berth in the quarterfinals. With the field
slick from a driving rain storm and Kuwaits defense out of sync, Charles
inserted Landon into the lineup. From the moment he entered the game, Landon
dominated the action, moving the ball to open teammates, hustling back to
help out on defense, and pressing towards the net whenever possible. The
U.S.
seized a 2-1 advantage in the second half on goals by Califf and Albright.
Kuwait stepped up its intensity, but Landon thwarted any chance of a comeback
with a late goal that sealed a 3-1 victory. For the first time in history,
America had advanced past the opening round in Olympic soccer competition.

That wasnt the
only highlight of the tournament for the U.S. The team next beat Japan
on penalty kicks
(5-4)
in a thrilling contest. Landon entered the game in the first half and again
played brilliantly. Charles surprised some onlookers by sending him out
for
one of the PKs. Cool as a November day, Landon hammered his kick into the
net.

In the round of eight, the U.S. finally met its match. Against Spain, Landon and his
teammates looked sluggish, never got into any sort of rhythm, and lost 3-1.
Nonetheless the Olympics had been an unqualified success for America, and
Landon was a major reason why.

A month later, in
the finals of preliminary qualifying for World Cup 2002, the U.S. faced
a critical
match
against Barbados. In second place in its group behind Costa Rica, the
Americans needed a clutch effort to stay ahead of Guatemala, which
was
only a point behind in the standings. The groups top two teams
would move on to the six-country regional finals.

Josh Wolff, 2000 Soccer
America

Given the importance
of the Barbados contest, Americas new coach Bruce Arena surprised many by leaving
five veterans off the roster: goalkeepers Kasey Keller and Friedel, defender
David Regis, midfielder Tony Sanneh and forward Jovan Kirovski. In addition,
Claudio Reyna was out due to a suspension, while Eddie Pope, John OBrien,
and Brian McBride all were nursing injuries. Landon was one of several newcomers
pegged as replacements.

Though Landon had
notched a goal in a 2-0 victory over Mexico two weeks earlier, Arena
decided
against
starting him. Joe-Max Moore and Clint Mathisalso talented scorersgot
the nod instead. As it turned out, the U.S. didnt need Landon on
this day. After playing an awful first half, the Americans woke up and
blew away Barbados 4-0 to move within striking range of a berth in the
World Cup finals.

MAKING
HIS MARK

The U.S. national team
gathered again in January 2001 for an exhibition against China. In a hard-fought
2-1
victory, Landon and Beasley were the stars. Both used their speed
and tenacity to force the action, consistently breaking up offensive forays
by the Chinese and generating scoring opportunities of their own. Landon
assisted
on Americas first goal, hitting Brian McBride with a gorgeous pass
as he streaked toward the net. Landon hoped his performance had solidified his
spot
on the U.S. squad, as America prepared to start its next round of World Cup
qualifying. Arena, however, had not finalized his roster. Landon was
one of six forwards the coach was considering.

Assuming he would be
chosen, Landon was going to have a hectic schedule come the spring. He
was slated
to travel
to Trinidad with Americas U-20 team for a qualifying tournament in
March, then to the World Youth Championship in June. There was also his commitment
to Bayer Leverkusen. Landon had recently been banished to the German Fourth
Division, which was barely on par with American high schools. The teenager
was stewing over this latest slight, but management were
largely unsympathetic. Bayer’s braintrust felt Landon was spreading himself too thin. Until
the youngster devoted his full attention to the club, he was unlikely to
be promoted. Also working against Landon was an episode that had occurred the previous
fall. Upset during a Fourth Division match, he behaved inappropriately and
drew a six-game suspension.

Landon became so frustrated
that he asked his agentto intervene. Richrad Motzkin flew to
Germany
and tried to divine a solution. He got Nike involved, certain that the
apparel
giants influence and money would be beneficial. The obvious move was
to alter Landons contract and allow him to play in another league,
such as MLS. But several problems existed. First, Bayer knew it had perhaps
the
most talented 18-year-old in the world; simply letting him walk away was
not an option. Second, MLS had a policy
that
prohibited players who had signed elsewhere to join the league. There was
also the question of which team would acquire the rights to Landon. He preferred
to play closer to home for the Los Angeles Galaxy, but the hapless San Jose
Earthquakes were technically first in line for his services.

After identifying
the various options and stumbling blocks in their first meeting, Bayer,
Motzkin,
and Nike representatives met later in Columbus, Ohio. This time they
were
able to come to an agreement. Bayer would loan Landon to an
MLS club, either Los Angeles or San Jose and in return receive a transfer
fee in the neighborhood of $4 million. The German club, however,
insisted that it retain the Landons rights throughout the length
of his contract, which ran though the 2003 season.

Meanwhile, Landon concentrated
on Americas U-20 team, which was getting ready for matches against
Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Trinidad & Tobago. Coach Wolfgang Suhnholz
had a tough job. Landon was one of several top players who competed professionally,
and meshing their schedules was no easy task. Fortunately Suhnholz found
a way to make it all work, and the U.S. breezed through qualifying.

Landon Donovan/DaMarcus
Beasley,
2001 Soccer America

By the time Landon returned, he
had officially become a member of the Earthquakes. Though slowed
by bruised ribs suffered several weeks earlier, he joined his team for its
season opener on April 7. Coming off a league-worst record of 7-17-8 in 2000,
the Earthquakes were limping along as well. To turn things around, the team
hired Frank Yallop as coach. He hoped to inject new life into a moribund offense
that barely averaged a goal a game the year before. Yallop knew that Landon
could provide a major boost in this area. On defense, San Jose traded for
Team USA veteran Jeff Agoos, who would be counted on to lead a young and developing
group.

In their first game,
the Earthquakes shocked the Galaxy 3-2, sending a clear message that
they were no longer
league doormats. Landon got his feet wet in the match, entering as
a substitute
in the 73rd minute. Three weeks later he was in the starting lineup against
Kansas City. Not long after, he notched the first goal of his MLS career
in a shutout of the NY/NJ MetroStars. Landon was adjusting quickly
to
the leagues style of play. He was named to Soccer Americas
Team of the Week after scoring a goal against Colorado in
early June. He collected two more against Los Angeles a week later.

Landon left San Jose briefly
for the U-20 World Cup. In a group with Chile, China, and Ukraine, he and
his teammates tried not to look past the first round, but expectations were
high for a run at the championship. Beasley and Convey gave
the squad a pair of talented midfielders. When teamed with Conor Casey and
Oguchi Onyewu, the Americans boasted a lethal offensive attack. Coach Suhnholz,
however, was most impressed by Landon. In his estimation, the U.S. had never
had such an accomplished scorer.

Unfortunately, America
showed its inexperience in Argentina. The team won only one match, a 4-1
decision
over Chile, and was knocked from contention by Egypt in the quarterfinals.
Landon was one of the squads few bright spots. Indeed, he took his
game to a new level. Throughout the competition, whenever he sensed a
weakness
in the U.S. gameplan, he plugged the hole. If the team was suffering defensively,
he dropped back and offered support. When an offensive strategy failed,
he
scanned the field for other opportunities.

Landon stayed in that
zone when he returned to the Earthquakes. He recorded assists in four
straight games
and again earned recognition on the Team of the Week. In
an amazing turn of events, San Jose stood atop the Western Division standings
with a record of 10-3-5. Landon was tied for second on the team with 11
points.
His popularity with fans was soaring. In balloting for the All-Star
Game, he led all midfielders with 26,151 votes and was named a starter
to
the Western squad.

The annual showcase
of MLSs
top talent proved to be Landons coming-out party. Playing in front
of his hometown fans in San Joses Spartan Stadium, he netted a hat
trick in the first 18 minutes of play. He then tallied another score during
injury time to secure a 6-6 tie. His four goals set a new record in All-Star
competition and won him honors as the games MVP.

Landon and the Earthquakes continued
to roll in August. He was voted Player of the Week after scoring two goals
and adding a pair of assists in a 5-1 win over New England. Despite missing
four games, Landon ended the season second on the team in scoring with seven
goals and 10 assists. San Jose finished second in the West, barely edged out
by Los Angeles for the division crown.

Landon made his postseason
debut in a best-of-three opening round series against the Columbus Crew.
In
a decisive
sweep by San Jose, he netted three goals. Next up was the Miami Fusion. After
dropping Game 1, the Earthquakes responded with a 4-0 blitz in the second
match. Landon chipped in with the games first goal and later added
an assist. The final game of the series went into overtime knotted at
0-0.
Troy Dayak played hero for San Jose this time, putting home a header that
set up a championship meeting with Los Angeles.

MLS Cup 2001 didnt start
well for Landon and his teammates, as San Jose fell behind 1-0. Considering
that the Earthquakes had gone 0-8-2 in all previous matches in which they
trailed, this was not a good sign. Landon, however, chose not to believe in
omens. Just as the first first half was drawing to a close, he blasted a shot
towards the top right corner of the net that eluded Galaxy goalkeeper
Kevin Hartman. The goal changed the tenor of the match. With both teams trying
to avoid a crucial second-half mistake, the game proceeded tensely. When neither
team scored, the final moved into overtimeonly the second time in history
that the MLS Cup would be decided after regulation play had ended.

Six minutes into
the extra period, San Jose capped its miraculous season when substitute
forward
Dwayne De Rosario scored from the top of the box. The triumph gave
the
Earthquakes one of the more improbable championships in the sports
history. Landon topped all postseason scorers with five goals and two
assists.

Landon Donovan, SI for
Kids

Landons MLS accomplishments,
gaudy stats, good looks, and Nike deal combined to make him Americas
poster boy for World Cup 2002. He lived up to his new status during the opening
months of the year. In a February match against Italy, he drilled a magnificent
shot that hit the post, denying Team USA a tie. In the Gold Cup, Landon again
played brilliantly, notching a key goal in a victory over South Korea. In
a match against Honduras, he and Brian McBride netted two goals apiece in
a 4-0 shutout.

Heading into the World Cup, some thought the Americans seemed cocky. Others
believed they were just confident. Coach Arena assembled a versatile club
that blended rising offensive stars like Landon, Mathis and Wolff
with an experienced defense. Brad Friedel was back in goal.

For Team USA, advancing out of
its group would be an accomplishment in and of itself. As the tournament host,
South Korea enjoyed the homefield advantage, which had historically played
a major role in the World Cup. Portugal, the fifth-best team in the world,
was an even tougher opponent. Only Poland appeared to be a patsy.

The opening match against Portugal
was expected to be a wipeout. Led by reigning World Player of the Year
Luis Figo, the Portuguese boasted a talented group of international veterans.
By contrast, more than half the players on the field for Team USA had
never logged a single minute in World Cup action. To make matters worse,
captain Claudio Reyna was injured and unable to play.

But Team USA caught
a huge break early when Portuguese goalkeeper Vitor Baia ran into a
teammate
off a corner kick by Earnie Stewart. The ball dropped loose in front
of
the goal, and John OBrien blasted it home for a 1-0 lead.

Twenty-five minutes
later, the Americans got an even stranger goal, this one coming after
Landon
drilled a crossing pass in front of Portugals net. The usually
reliable Jorge Costa tried to the head the ball out of danger. Instead
he redirected
it toward the near post. Baia then attempted to pop the ball over the
goal with his fist, but it hit the crossbar and ricocheted in. Team
USA
later went ahead 3-0 on a header by McBride. Though Portugal fought
back, the Americans did a great job neutralizing Figo and held on
for
an eye-opening 3-2 victory.

Against
South Korea, the Americans knew anything could happen. Late in the
first
half,
Lee Eul Yong was fouled in the box, and only a brilliant save by Friedel on the ensuing penalty kick kept the game scoreless. Mathis
and
OBrien then teamed up to give the U.S. a 1-0 advantage. But Team
USA surrendered its edge in the 78th minute after Ahn Jung Hwan outdueled
Jeff Agoos and notched the evener. The match ended in a 1-1 tie, a somewhat
disappointing result for Landon and his teammates since they had held
the lead.

To advance out of the opening
round, all Team USA needed against a weak Polish team was a tie. But that
made Poland, already mathematically eliminated, a dangerous opponent.
Playing many of their substitutes, the Poles manhandled the U.S., winning
3-1. Only a shocking victory by South Korea over Portugal saved the Americans
and enabled them to move on.

In the round of 16, Landon and
his teammates faced arch-rival Mexico. The Mexicans had long dominated the
United States in soccer, at one time boasting an unbeaten streak that stretched
over four decades. But in recent years the Americans had taken five of six
matches. Team USA was
brimming with confidence. The Americans were further bolstered when President Bush
phoned to wish them luck.

Coach Arena fiddled
with his lineup, knowing he needed fresh legs to contend with the dangerous
duo
of Jared Borgetti
and Gerardo Torrado. The moves worked perfectly. The Americans counter-attacked
brilliantly, and Reyna, back from his injury, played the best game of
his
life. McBride scored the first goal of the match off a gorgeous touch pass
from Wolff. Landon then put the game out of reach with 25 minutes remaining.
The 2-0 final was Americas biggest soccer win in more than 50 years.

In the quarterfinals
for the first time since 1930, Team USA next squared off against Germany.
While
no one was
confusing this group of Germans with the countrys great teams of the
1970s, experts still gave the Americans no real chance of winning. But Landon
and his teammates werent initimidated. Many of them had played
professionally in Germany and knew some of the German stars personally.

The U.S. also had a little payback
on its agenda. When the teams met at 1998 World Cup, Germany had brutalized
the smaller Americans. Reyna was kneed by Jens Jeremies with such force in
that match that he was literally numb for 30 minutes.

From the opening kickoff, Team
USA took the initiative. Landon was all over the field. He made a highlight-reel
move past Thomas Linke, pushing the ball around one side of the German defender
and darting by him to continue his dribble. Landon then let loose a shot from
point-blank range that goalkeeper Oliver Kahn was barely able to deflect away.

Fans are still arguing about this
one. Some say Landon was surprised after his fantastic move on Linke and
did not react quickly enough when the veteran Kahn charged him to cut down
the angle. Regardless, the play seemed to affect Landon for the worst. He
had a couple more scoring chances in the first half but failed to capitalize
on any of them.

Those missed opportunities proved
costly. As good teams do, Germany made the necessary adjustments to bottle
up Landon, and then executed the rest of its game plan without a mistake.
The Germans pounded the ball inside again and again, hoping for a foul or
an open header. Michael Ballack made
the play of the game in the 39th minute, heading in a free kick off the foot
of Christian Ziege.

Down 1-0, Team USA started
strong in the second half and appeared to have a chance at the game-tying
goal.
Reyna booted a corner kick which Tony Sanneh headed toward the German
goal.
In the ensuing scramble, teammate Gregg Berhalter flicked the ball over Kahn.
The ball hit the arm of Torsten Frings, who was standing near the post.
Referee
Hugh Dallas could have whistled a hand ballwhich would have resulted
in a penalty kickbut apparently felt the touch was incidental. That
pretty much ended things for the Americans. Germany won 1-0.

Having developed
a better appreciation for his place in American soccer, Landon made
it a point
to get back on
the field as soon as possible. Less than 40 hours after the whistle sounded
on the loss to Germany, he entered as a sub for the Earthquakes in
a match
against the Colorado Rapids. Landon received a standing ovation from
the 10,000 fans in attendance. With a few seconds left in the match,
he hit
a teammate in stride with a throw-in, and the play resulted in a goal. San Jose, which had fashioned the best record in the
league
during Landons absence, won 4-0.

Team USA, 2002 ESPN
Magazine

After a quiet offseason, Landon
and the Quakes headed into he 2003 MLS campaign facing significant challenges.
The Galaxy, led by Carlos Ruiz, were looking to defend their league championship.
The experts liked San Jose's chances with Landon powering the offense
and Agoos leading a rock-solid defense. But the departures of keeper
Joe Cannon and fullback Wade Barrett (both to European clubs) raised questions
that would take the better part of the season to answer.

San Jose held its own and battled
LA for the division crown. Landon was a marked man regardless of who the
Earthquakes played, so he concentrated on tying up as many defenders as
possible to create opportunities for teammates. Landon amassed many of
his points by waiting until the defense lost a half-step late in games.

As the '03 season
wound down, Landon was right there among the scoring leaders. He was
the best
player on the league’s most explosive team. The MVP race was heated,
with Preki, Ante Razov, Ruiz, John Spencer and Landon having great years.
A flurry of goals down the stretch—including two against the East-leading
Chicago Fire—wasn’t enough for Landon, as Preki took top honors
for the second time in his career. Landon finished sixth in the scoring
race with 12 goals and six assists in 22 games. The Quakes went 14-7-9
to win the West.

In their opening-round
playoff series against the Galaxy, the Earthquakes lost the first game 2-0,
and then found
themselves down 2-0 in the second contest after just 13 minutes. Behind
by four goals in the total-goals format, San Jose not only needed to
win,
the team needed to score four unanswered goals just to send the game
(and series) into overtime. In an historic comeback, the Quakes got
their four
goals—including one by Landon—to knot the score in regulation.
Chris Roner headed in the equalizer with a minute left. After a scoreless
first overtime, Landon fed Rodrigo Faria six minutes into the second
OT
for the clinching goal in a 5-2 win.

In the Western Conference Final,
against Kansas City, the Earthquakes went into sudden death tied 2-2.
In the 117th minute, Landon reached down for one last burst of energy
to net the game-winner.

That set up a showdown
with the Fire in the MLS Cup. Chicago had already won the first two
legs
of
U.S. Soccer’s “triple crown,” taking the MLS regular-season
title (Supporters’ Shield) and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Though
favored, the Fire had history against them—no team had ever won
all three honors.

Unlike the first two postseason
rounds, there was no nail-biting for San Jose fans. The Earthquakes scored
five minutes into the match when Agoos feinted at a free kick and then
Ronnie Ekelund blasted a shot into the right corner from 22 yards. Landon
made it 2-0 in the 38th minute when he split the Chicago defense and beat
goalie Zach Thornton one-on-one.

Early in the second
half, Beasley scored for the Fire to make it 2-1, but a minute later
San
Jose midfielder
Richard Mulrooney drove toward the Chicago goal and looked for
Landon. When he spotted his teammate luring several defenders with
him,.
Mulrooney—who had not scored all year—fired a shot just inside
the far post. After Chicago made it 3-2,
goalie Pat Onstad preserved the lead by stopping a penalty kick by Razov
in the 57th minute. Landon iced the game by tapping a perfect cross from
De Rosario past Thornton with 19 minutes to go. The final score was 4-2,
and Landon was named the match’s MVP.

Coming off a championship
season with the Earthquakes, Landon helped the U.S. open
the new cathedral of American soccer, The Home Depot Center in California.
The Americans welcomed a strong team in Denmark and fell behind 1-0
at halftime. Landon and his teammates got a break in the 75th minute when
a Danish defender clobbered Convey in the penalty area. Landon converted
the ensuing penalty kick to salvage a tie.

A week later, it appeared
Landon was ready to go back to Europe. Portsmouth of the English Premier
League struck a deal with to obtain him
on loan until MLS play started in the spring. At that point, Landon would
return to the Earthquakes. FIFA, however, immediately terminated the deal.

In February of 2004,
Landon, Beasley and Convey lead the U.S. U-23 squad into the
Olympic qualifying competition in Mexico. The team was looking to obtain
America’s sixth straight berth in the Summer Games. The squad won its
first three matches, including an exciting 4-3 victory over a surprisingly
skilled team from Panama. Landon scored one of the four goals, while Convey
drilled one home, too. The pair was becoming quite a tandem. In a 2-0
first-round victory over Canada, Convey netted both goals, while Landon
had both assists.

Unfortunately for
the Americans, Mexico halted the the squad's Olympic dreams
with a dominating 4-0 performance in the semis. Two months later,
the U.S. got a measure of revenge in a friendly match
against Mexico in Dallas. Landon dominated the action early on, hitting
the crossbar once and forcing Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez to make
an eye-popping save just before halftime. Late in the game, with a scoreless
tie looming, Landon broke loose and was fouled just outside the penalty area.
On the ensuing free kick, Convey found Eddie Pope, who powered the ball
past Sanchez. Seconds later, the referee blew the final whistle to seal
America's 1-0 victory.

Landon didn't enjoy
quite as much success early in the 2004 season with the Earthquakes. He picked up his play in a match against the
Metrostars, a contest that ended in a 5-5 tie. Landon had a hand in each
of the five scores, tallying two assists and a goal and forcing the Metrostars
to commit two key fouls, each of which lead to a goal.

San Jose went 2-0-1
in its next three, not including a friendly match victory over the Portuguese
club, Sporting Lisbon. After sitting the entire first half of the game,
Landon was inserted with the Earthquakes trailing 1-0. He had an immediate
impact, assisting on a goal by Brain Mullan. He later added two tallies
of his won, and the Earthquakes cruised to a 4-1 win.

In the victory, Landon
proved again that he could dominate against a prime European club. It
was a harbinger of things to come. In June, four years after Landon first
played with Bayer, he learned that he would be heading
back to Germany. With his four-year loan
due to expire in January, Bayer announced that he would play out the remaining
four years of his contract in the Bundesliga. The news was devastating
for the Earthquakes, who were having problems drawing fans. Without their
star, the franchise seriously contemplated moving to another city.

Shortly after the
announcement, Landon shifted his focus to World Cup qualifying, as the
U.S. prepared for a home-and-home series with Grenada. The Americans opened
the two-game set in Ohio with an easy 3-0 victory. Landon assisted
on a tally by Beasley. A week later in Grenada, the U.S. overcame sloppy
field conditions for a 3-2 win.

Meanwhile, the
Earthquakes were struggling, languishing in last place in the West. An
easy choice for the All-Star game, Landon was growing increasingly frustrated.
This was abundantly clear after a 2-2 draw against the New England Revolution.
Landon argued loudly with officials following the match—an incident
that cost him $1,000 in fines and a one-game suspension.

Things went better
on the international front, as the U.S. faced Jamaica in the next round
of World Cup qualifying. One of Landon’s San Jose teammates, Brain
Ching, came through in a big way in the first match. After the Jamaicans
scored early to go up 1-0, Landon found Ching standing alone in scoring
position late in the contest. When he converted the neat feed, the Americans
returned home with a crucial point. Landon
and Ching led the charge again when the series moved to the U.S. Each
netted a goal as Team USA took control of their qualifying group with
a 2-0 victory.

A week later, the
U.S. scored late again and got another big road point in a 1-1 tie with
Panama. But the squad suffered a blow when Claudio Reyna was sidelined
with a thigh injury. Without their captain, they found a way to beat El
Salvador. Landon was front and center, assisting on the goal by Eddie
Johnson that sealed the victory. The U.S. then pummeled Panama 6-0 in
their best match of the year. Coach Arena used Landon as a midfielder,
and the Panamanians had no way of stopping him. Wearing the captain’s
armband in Reyna’s absence, he recorded the match’s first
two goals.

Back in San Jose,
the Earthquakes managed a surprising 9-7-7 finish and made the playoffs.
They didn't last long, however, as Kansas City dispatched
them in the opening round.

For Landon, 2004 was
a momentous year. Thanks in large part to his strong play, the Americans
advanced into the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying finals. Among his personal
highlights, he was named U.S. soccer's Player of the Year for the
third time. (No other player has won the award more than twice.)

Carlos Ruiz, 2006 Upper Deck MLS

Landon's next challenge was in the Bundesliga with Bayer. He made a couple of starts in 2005 and saw action in five other games before letting ownership know he wanted to return to MLS. The Galaxy maneuvered its way into position to grab Landon, enabling him to play in his hometown.

LA went 13–13–6 and squeaked into the playoffs. Landon scored 12 times and added 10 assists during the regular season. He heated up in the playoffs, scoring four postseason goals (including a pair of game-winners) as the Galaxy bounced the first-place Fire on their way to a berth in the MLS Cup.

The Galaxy played New England for the championship. The two teams battled to a scoreless tie after 90 minutes. Guillermo Ramirez—a notoriously poor shooter—shocked fans by drilling home the game-winner for LA in overtime. Also in 2005, the Galaxy won the U.S. Open Cup, defeating the Fire in the final 1–0 on a goal by Herculez Gomez.

LA failed to repeat as champs in 2006, but Donovan had a decent yearwith 12 goals and added eight assists. The focus of the year, of course, was the World Cup. Team USA was grouped with Italy, which won the tournament, as well as Ghana and the Czech Republic.

The U.S. dropped its opening match to the Czechs but recovered to tie Italy in the next game. Donovan and his teammates needed to defeat Ghana, with Italy beating the Czech Republic, in order to advance to the knockout rounds. The Italians took care of their part of the deal, but after the U.S. tied the match 1–1 on a Clint Dempsey goal, Ghana answered moments later by scoring the game-winner on a penalty kick. Several missed opportunities in the second half sent Team USA home deeply disappointed.

The U.S. fared better in international competition in 2007, winning the CONCACAAF Gold Cup. Landon scored four times during the tournament.

But it was as a member of the Galaxy that Landon made the most headlines. David Beckham joined the club, which initially pushed Landon out of the spotlight. Part of the English star’s deal called for Landon to relinquish his captaincy. Landon wasn’t happy about the turn of events and scored just eight goals during the regular season. He made up for that by leading the Galaxy to the final of the new North American Superliga tournament. He scored a goal in every match on the road to the championship game. For the second year in a row, however, LA failed to qualify for the MLS playoffs.

That streak ran to three straight seasons in 2008, but little blame lay at Donovan’s doorstep. He had a monster season, finding the net 20 times and forming an exciting attack with Beckham and Edson Buddle.

Beckham went back to play in Europe in 2008–09, on loan to AC Milan, so Landon was given back the honor of captaining the Galaxy. Under his leadership, the Galaxy finished first in the West with a record of 12–6–12. Landon was named league MVP. The Galaxy made it all the way to the MLS Cup, where they lost to Real Salt Lake on penalty kicks. Donovan was one of three LA players to miss their kicks.

Earlier in the year, Landon had better luck leading the US to the final of the Confederations Cup. With Carlos Bocanegra injured, Landon was given the team's captaincy, and he responded with a pair of goals, including one in a 3–2 loss to Brazil in the championship game. That fall, Landon scored on a free kick against Honduras to secure a 3–2 victory and a berth in World Cup 2010.

Landon Donovan, 2006 Upper Deck MLS

Landon’s leadership on the field was superb in 2009, but for the first time his character was questioned off it. In a book about Beckham's experience in MLS, Donovan was quoted as calling his teammate a poor captain. The story was picked up by media outlets around the world. Landon apologized to Beckham for not taking his concerns to his teammate directly, and the matter was forgotten as Beckham rejoined the club during their run to the 2009 division title.

After the MLS Cup, Landon joined the English Club Everton on loan from the Galaxy. Playing against world-class competition on a regular basis, he flourished, scoring twice and being named the team’s Player of the Month in January. Everton wanted to keep him past the agreed-upon term of the loan, but the Galaxy wanted him back for the start of the 2010 MLS campaign.

The big focus in 2010 was the World Cup. At 28, Landon was now a veteran leader. What Team USA lacked in talent, it made up for in camaraderie. Landon knew that he was the player the team would turn to in crunch time, and there was plenty of that in the Group competition. Indeed, the Americans found themselves with their backs against the wall in all three matches. They managed a 1–1 tie in their opener with England. Their match against Slovenia was a different story. With the Americans traiing 2-0, Landon got his club on the board with a blistering shot from the right side that nearly took the goalkeeper's head off. Bob Bradley scored the equalize,r and the U.S. appeard to score the game-winner on Landon's cross. Unforunately, the goal was disallowed for mysterious reasons.

The 2–2 final score meant the Team USA had to beat Algeria in its third and final match. Several missed shots by the Americans resulted in a scoreless tie after 90 minutes, but that set the stage for a dramatic ending. During injury time, Landon swooped in on a rebound and drilled the goal that catapulted his team from oblivion to the top of the group. It marked the first time since the original 1930 tournament that the U.S. had won its group.

Team USA's magic finally ran out against its old foe Ghana during the round of 16. The Americans lost 2-1. Still, their heroics in winning the group left U.S. soccer fans with a feeling of satisfaction—and clear goals for World Cup 2014.

Will Donovan be part of that team? It's hard to imagine America going into battle without him. But soccer's wonderchild will be on the other side of 30 by then. Some say that's too old for Landon to be Landon. Others insist that his experience and boundless energy will once again make him Team USA's go-to guy.

LANDON
THE PLAYER

David Beckham, 2007 Sports Illustrated

Landon has the whole package. He is quick on his feet and fast in the open field. He has a strong and accurate right leg, and he’s lethal with his left, too. Landon combines these qualities with a scorer’s instinct, which means there is no real ceiling on his potential. And he is constantly on the attack.

Prior to his stint with Everton, Landon’s overseas play had cast some doubt on his skill compared to world-class players. This is no longer in doubt. Not only did he come away from England with great confidence and experience, he saw the difference between what it means to be a good pro and what it means to be a superstar.

What intrigues the experts most about Landon is the part of his game that got relatively little comment until World Cup 2010. Leadership. Whether Landon is leading by word or deed, he always seems to be leading. He demands as much of his teammates as he does of himself, yet he never alienates them or shows them up. And in terms of leading by example, he did so time and time again on his third trip to the big stage.

Is Landon the greatest player in U.S. history? It may be too early to make that call, but he is certainly on the short list of contenders for that mantle.